Water scarcity hits vegetable farms in Yairipok area
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 16 2023:
Scarcity of irrigation water has severely affected several vegetable farms in Sabikhok and Thangjingkom field of Yairipok Nongbram area following which Nongpok Imphal Loumee Sinmee Apunba Lup (NILSAL) has drawn attention of the government authorities concerned for taking up necessary measures to address the issue.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here on Monday, NILSAL president H Ibohanbi said that farmers of the area are cultivating mustard, pea, wheat and other vegetables in an area of around 25 hectares.
Most of the crops have grown and nearing harvest.
However, scarcity of irrigation water has affected the crops severely with farmers worrying of a possible crop failure just before harvesting.
They have submitted written appeal to the district agriculture officer, agriculture director and chief engineer of water resources department, but no initiatives have been taken up till date to address the issue, he said.
Simply distributing seeds without improving irrigation infrastructure will not increase food productivity, he pointed out, while urging for early measures to resolve the situation.
He also decried the present system of availing urea to the farmers and said that farmers are forced to buy a packet of Mukta Power bio-fertiliser at the cost of Rs 250 along with a bag of urea.
As per department officials, the bio-fertiliser is supposed to be mixed with urea.
However, buying another fertiliser in addition to the urea is unaffordable to most farmers, he said, while urging the government to review the policy.